Former Toronto Argonaut running back Cory Boyd says being released by the team hurt, but he has no regrets

Cory Boyd may no longer play for the Argos, but he still considers Toronto his home.

Edmonton running back Cory Boyd (28) in action against the Montreal Alouettes last week.

By:Bob MitchellSports Reporter, Published on Sun Aug 26 2012

His job is now in Edmonton but Cory Boyd’s heart remains in Toronto and his home in Mississauga.

Two weeks after his football career took a sharp and unexpected turn, Boyd, 27, is back in Toronto, staying at a downtown hotel with his Edmonton Eskimos teammates instead of sleeping in his own bed in his Mississauga apartment where most his clothes remain hug in the closets and his car is parked.

“I never expected to be out of the Double Blue. I honestly thought I would retire with Toronto but coming back and playing against my former team is a new chapter,” said Boyd, who has been living in a hotel since arriving in Edmonton on Aug. 13. a day after his sudden release from the Argos while he was still leading the CFL in rushing.

Despite now playing for the Eskimos, Boyd will continue to make Mississauga his off-season home where he also works as a personal trainer.

“I’m still going to be CB3 Performance even though my number has changed (28),” Boyd said with a smile moments after arriving in Toronto late Sunday afternoon. “Everything is still on track. It just got a little sidestepped. This is my home. I will be here in the off-season. I love Toronto. It’s been a blessing for me. The CFL has been a blessing for me.”

His clients left many messages for him after the news broke about his release a day before Toronto returned from the bye week. His last game with Toronto was on his 27th birthday, an 18-9 loss to the B.C. Lions at the Rogers Centre.

“I got a lot of calls from my clients. Some cried. But I told them there was no reason to be sad if they invested in me as a person because I landed in a good place,” Boyd said. “I’m just not wearing the Double Blue any more. I’m still the blessed and gifted person with a smile every time they see me and enjoying this life.

“What I’ve taken from this is that you never know when you’ve played your last game with the team you’re playing with. Things can change in the blink of an eye. You have to learn that this is business. It’s not personal. They weren’t attacking me or marking me as man, who wasn’t good for the organization. They had a different way of making their team better and it wasn’t with me.

“I had to accept that. It was rough for a few days. But I realized that I was still a good athlete in this league. As far as I’m concerned it was strictly a football move. It hurts. If someone doesn’t believe in you any more, you can’t do anything about it. But when you get that next chance, you just have to show them what they’re missing. It’s been a humble experience but I don’t live with regrets.”

Although the Argos tried to trade him before his release, Boyd never saw it coming. But the shock and the upheaval of his life was lessened by being welcomed by his new gold and green teammates.

“They didn’t shun me or put me down in any way. It was a family atmosphere,” Boyd said. “Everybody had the confidence that I could bring the success I had here in Toronto with me over there

“But it feels good to be back in Toronto. It’s rough to be playing a team you played with for 2 ½ years. But you have a job to do.”

Boyd has spent much of the past two weeks studying his new playbook. He still thinks a bit about Toronto but doesn’t have any hard feelings for any of his former teammates, the organization or coach Scott Milanovich, who felt the team would be better with Chad Kackert playing tailback. Toronto Argonauts hand ball to road warrior Chad Kackert

“It’s never that easy. I put my blood, sweat and tears for this team for many years but coach Milanovich is a great guy,” Boyd said. “He lets you know up front how he feels. There are no hard feelings for me with this team. They made a decision to move on without me. I have to live with that.

“If I allow myself to get emotionally unstable in this game I won’t be here very long. I’m here for longevity knowing I have to take the bumps and bruises along the way on my journey. I’m just glad that this team reached out for me. It means they had some kind of interest in me. And they have some expectations from me.

“Playing in this league is a privilege. You’re not certain how long you’re going to be playing this game so I’m just going to ride this wave.”

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